Midway through the Carolina Hurricanes’ 2018 offseason, the team made one more surprise change to its coaching staff. Steve Smith, who had run the defensemen and penalty kill for four seasons under Bill Peters, resigned and signed on with the Buffalo Sabres. The Canes tabbed former NHL defenseman Dean Chynoweth to fill that role.
Chynoweth, who spent last season as the associate coach for the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, jumped at the chance to join the coaching staff of a young, up-and-coming team.
“It wasn’t just one thing,” Chynoweth said. “This is a young group with a lot to prove.